Appendix A Laguna Division Conservation Area: Project Update for the MSCP Steering

Committee. October 2010

Laguna Division

Conservation AreaConservation Area

Project Update

Project Site MapProject Site Map • Project Area – 1154 acres

• Reach Length – 4.3 miles

• Existing Conditions - Extensive/dense tamarisk

monoculture

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Project Design ConsiderationsProject Design Considerations • Up to 100 cfs available for project use • Habitat Targets

• Open Water/Marsh: 50 – 100 ac • Cottonwood/Willow: >200 acCottonwood/Willow: >200 ac • Upland(mesquite): <500 ac • Include specific habitat for T&E species

• P id h d l h bi f 50 Provide hydrology to support habitats for 50 years or more • No detrimental effect on existing Mittry Lake or Old River Channel

Habitats • Minimize impacts to existing operations (sluicing, dredge disposal,

water delivery, etc.) • Minimize both initial construction and long-term operating costs

Target HabitatsTarget Habitats Open Water/Marsh: 50 – 100 ac

Upland (Mesquite): <500 ac Cottonwood/Willow: >200 ac

Target Species California Black Rail

Yuma Clapper Rail

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

Yuma Hispid Cotton Rat

Colorado River Cotton Rat

Western Least Bittern

Permitting UpdatePermitting Update • NEPANEPA

– Public Outreach held in March 2010 – Draft NEPA September 2010Draft NEPA September 2010 – Final NEPA October 2010

•• 404 Permit 404 Permit – Scheduled submittal November 2010

Addi i l P i• Additional Permiitting – Yuma County encroachment permit for road

crossing

Public Concerns with BurnPublic Concerns with Burn

• N b A i lt Fi ldNearby Agriculture Fields – Wind direction for ash fallout Bureau of Land Management – Displaced Animals will address these in final burn plan

• Wildlife and Wildlife Areas Wildlife and Wildlife Areas – Breeding Season – Displaced Animals – Recreation at Mittry Lake Wildlife Area

• Nearby Homes and Parks – Road Closures – Smoke / Ash fallout – Fire Containment Fire Containment

• Invasive Weeds – Spread of Invasive Weeds by Fire Management Operations

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General Project Update

• Boundary change – Additional acres from

dredge disposal sitedredge disposal site

– Tribal boundary revised • Designing preferredDesigning preferred

alternative • Moving towards

constructiion

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REACH 1

REACH 2 “Pulse” WSE = 159.0

“Pulse” WSE = 157.0 REACH 3

Normal WSE = 157.0 WCS#1 Normal WSE = 150.0 Normal WSE 150.0

GILA Channel Invert = 151.0 Channel Invert = 148.0 WASTEWAY Channel Invert = 149.0‐150.0

Normal WSE = 155 0 WCS#2

Normal WSE 155.0

CANAL CONNECT TO THE

OLD RIVER CHANNEL

 

Current Design Concept: OverviewOverview

• Operate as a managed Operate as a managed, leveed wetland rather than a river• leveed wetland rather than a river system to maximize limited water resource

• Use existingg overflow channels througgh pprojject area to minimize excavation

• Use “pulse flows” to provide irrigation to woody species • Requires water control structures to manage water levels

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Construction ComponentsComponents

• Water Delivery System from Gila Forebay •• HeadworksHeadworks • Pipeline

• Site Preparation for Earthwork • Burning and Grubbing of Salt Cedar

• Earthwork • Channels provide the topography to support

water conveyance and vegetation/ habitat • Utilize existing topography to minimizeUtilize existing topography to minimize

cut/fill and maximize pulse flow irrigated area

• Reach 1 & 2 primary and secondary channels; Reach 3 outlet channels; E hEnhancement of hi f historiic chhannell

• Levees and roads for access and firebreaks

• Water Control Structures • Managge water levels in Reaches 1 & 2,, and

historic river channel • Additional Mittry Lake turnout structure

Water Deliveryy System Overview • GGravit ity systtem ddeli liveriing hihi ghh

quality water from the Gila Forebay to the wetland restoration area

• Pipeline headworks at the Gila Forebay

• 2,300-FT, 48-IN. diameter pipeline

• Cross underneath the Gila Wasteway Canal with an inverted siphoninverted siphon

Gila Forebay

near proposed headworks

Water Delivery System: Headworks

• 5-day construction window during maintenance draw-down for the Gila Forebay

• Construct cast-in-place concrete stop-log bay during the maintenance draw-down (Tentative start date: January 2011)

• Construct pipe penetration/closure of the Gila Forebay liner and install secondary slide gate (Tentative start date: Spring 2011)

• Install primary valve and meter (Tentative start date: Spring 2011)

Water Delivery System: PipelineWater Delivery System: Pipeline

• 4848-inch diameter 2 300 Foot pipelineinch diameter, 2,300 Foot pipeline – Inverted siphon to cross underneath the Gila Wasteway

Canal – Scheduled to be constructed Spring 2011 Scheduled to be constructed Spring 2011

• Constructed through portions of the original Yuma Proving Grounds historic area SHPO consultation Proving Grounds historic area – SHPO consultation underway

Site Prepparation for Earthwork • Prescribed Burn

– Single burn of entire project area – BLM developing burn plan – Scheduled for fall/winter 2011

• Post Burn Operations Post-Burn Operations – Clearing, Grubbing & Piling – Soil & Water Monitoring – O i h bi id t t t f i iOn-going herbicide treatment of invasive speciies

Earthwork Operations: T i l C S ti Typical Cross Sections

Earthwork Opperations • Earthwork

– Approximatelyy 1.3 Million Cubic Yards of excavation pp – Utilize excavated spoils to form levees and

maintenance roads

– Excavate from south to north to allow management ofExcavate from south to north to allow management of groundwater

– Commence Fall 2012

• Invasive weed management on goingInvasive weed management on-going

Water Control StructuresWater Control Structures • Overshot Gates set in cast-in-place concrete bays

• Constructed in concert with earthwork operations

• Potential to automate

•• Additional Mittry Lake turn out structure Additional Mittry Lake turn-out structure

Habitat Acreages

Channel Revegetation (Tidal irrigation with water control structures)

April 2006

June 2010

Marsh and Transitional Zone (Tidal irrigation with water control structures)

October 2005

June 2010

Transitional Zone (Tidal irrigation with water control structures)

October 2006

June 2010

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Plant Establishment 1. Establishment of marsh plantings and upper terrace

mesquite plantings - Hand planting of marsh plugs and deep pot mesquitesHand planting of marsh plugs and deep pot mesquites - Marsh plants must establish before the transitional/cottonwood

areas can be flooded M i l i i i d i h h i i i i l l d-Mesquite plantings irrigated with sheet irrigation in leveled areas

2. Establishment of transitional zones and cottonwood/ willow once marsh plants are tall enough to flood for longer periods (4-6 months after marsh plantings)

M hi l d i h l d/ h d l i i h l 1- Machine planted with plugs and/or hand planting with larger 1 gallon trees

Plant Establishment 3. Water level management

- Freqquent fluctuations the first two yyears duringg establishment - Once vegetation is established maintain stable water levels

especially during migration and nesting seasons

Project Maintenance and MonitoringProject Maintenance and Monitoring

• Follow up aerial/land-based herbicide treatments after Follow up aerial/land based herbicide treatments after burn and up to planting areas

• Continued weed maintenance of planted/unplanted areas during plant establishment period (intense maintenance the first 2-3 years)

•• Maintenance and operation of water control structures Maintenance and operation of water control structures, roads and project infrastructure (50 years)

• Irrigation of upper terrace mesquite revegetation • Plant and wildlife monitoring of restored area • Long-term weed, replanting and irrigation maintenance

Additional Information NeedsAdditional Information Needs

• Additional Monitoringg Wells alongg Pro pposed Channels – Groundwater information (water quality and salinity)

• Additi l il t d t i th d th t Additional soil surveys to determine the depth to watter table, soil texture and soil salinity across the site

• Vegetation design will need refinement to incorporate the additional water and soil analyses

Current Schedule

Questions?